Wednesday, December 25, 2013

This almost feels weird, but it is my blog so I guess I'll get over it. You know that reward I mentioned for finishing 500 miles?? Well, I asked my very talented sister-in-law, RJ, to take some pictures of me.The surprise? These were for my parents for Christmas (my picture at their house was a little dated). I LOVE how these turned out!! And I think it's a pretty great reward! Can't wait to do it again...perhaps after the next 500. :)

Monday, December 23, 2013

While it may sound like a negative thing, this would be in reference to yet ANOTHER goal completed this year!! I just finished reading the Standard Works today which includes the Old and New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price! What an incredible journey it has been!

I am glad that I was able to finsih it around Christmas. I realized what an incredible gift it is to have the gospel of Jesus Christ restored to the earth to bless each of us! It helped me see that without the our Savior being born all those years ago, we wouldn't be where we are - I wouldn't be where I am! I am so grateful!!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

I’ve had a few people ask me what has motivated me this year.
Why these goals? Why so many goals? What kept me going? There are really two
main things.

First, I knew who I wanted to become and it wasn’t the
person I was then. I didn’t really like who I was. I was having a really hard time at the end of
last year making decisions, feeling settled, and just dealing with life. I had
this idea in my head of the woman I hoped to be and was basing some major
decisions off of that, but I wasn’t her. It was then that I decided I would
never be her if I didn’t make some changes and DO something about it. It was
time to turn my words into actions.

Second, I didn’t want to waste the 18 months my sister was
gone on a mission and have nothing to show for it. We were getting letter after
amazing letter from Lori and I could see how much she was learning, changing,
and accomplishing. I didn’t want her to come home, look at me and give me that “I
saved the world, what did you do?” look. I wanted to be someone she could be proud
of, just like I am of her! I wanted to live up to the high example she has set.

Every time I felt like I couldn’t walk another mile, or when
I felt like the Old Testament would never end, or when my hair wouldn’t
cooperate and seemed to be screaming for a cut, one of those two reasons would
come into my mind. I became so determined that these things have seriously
become a part of me. Reading my scriptures daily is almost a no brainer (except
for the weekends…I’m STILL trying to get the schedule to stick on Saturday
morning), and working out is more like play time now (words I would NEVER have
said before accomplishing this goal), it’s become my reward for surviving my
days.

If I had any words of advice for someone planning to tackle
big goals, it would be this. JUST DO IT! Make a decision, move forward, and don’t
look back. Make adjustments as necessary, but don’t give up. Determine what it
is that motivates you and keep those thoughts close at hand.I would also suggest making your goals
visual. For me, it involved putting everything into a PowerPoint presentation
and posting all the slides on my wall. Not once did I ever forget what I was
trying to accomplish. And lastly, don’t worry about comparing your goals or the
accomplishments with anyone else. I had a goal to walk 500 miles, yet had
people posting on various media outlets that they had just finished 100 miles
in a month, or run so many marathons, or some other really impressive
accomplishment. I was tempted to throw in the towel at times because my goals
weren’t as grand as theirs. But then I remembered that my goals weren’t their
goals. Accept yourself and what you can do. You are doing so much better than
you probably give yourself credit for! Just do it!

Saturday, December 14, 2013

This is the face of the woman who just finished her 500th mile!! Granted, this was actually last night and I'm just getting around to putting it on the blog, but it is AMAZING!!! In my monthly and year end recap I'll tell you more about how awesome this was (and it was INCREDIBLE!!)!! I have learned so much just from walking!

I also decided to reward myself for accomplishing this goal. One reward is a surprise and can't be shared just yet (I had to tell someone that). The other is an appointment to the doctor. Remember way back in June I stepped on that nail. Well, "someone" is a bit stubborn and didn't want anything to stand in the way of achieving this goal, so "she" just kept walking and well, let's just say its way past time. Until then, and after that, the walking continues (except for tonight - I gave myself the night off AND ate some peanut butter...that's living on the edge)!

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

It's 8:30 in the morning and I'm sitting at my desk. High ranking officials of the company are expected today and I'm running around last minute (is there any other way) attempting to finalize presentations, organize the conference room, make sure the break room isn't too disgusting. In the middle of this the copier dies, the phone is ringing off the hook, people are lined up at my desk, and I'm just trying to remember to breathe.

By 9:45 I've accomplished these various tasks, the guests have arrived, the conference room doors are shut, and I get to go about my day. I sit down at my desk and take the first relaxed breath of the morning as a coworker walks by, smiles at me and heads out the door. The pattern is repeated as she comes back in a few minutes later. Typically on her return trips she'll stop and chat for a few moments, but this morning she just smiled and kept walking. I assumed she had a lot of work to do and didn't think twice about it.

A few minutes later an email arrives from her asking if she and I are okay, and that the reason she is asking is that I was giving her the evil eye. I have this conundrum. Do I feel flattered that my friend is concerned about me and making sure I'm okay, or do I feel perturbed that this person who thinks I'm giving her the evil eye and has not made any attempt to speak to me all day feels a passive email is the right approach?

While I'm pondering these questions my mind begins to replay these interactions and wishing that I could see my face at those moments. In my mind I feel certain there was a smile on my face, a happy nod of recognition, everything "normal". Somehow my eyes weren't reflecting the same. So now my next conundrum...how do I change this? What I want more than anything is for the light and love of Christ to be reflected by me, especially from my eyes.

I can't do anything about this morning, evil eye or not. Right or wrong on my part or hers those moments are gone. I have an opportunity now to correct myself, and my eyes, to change my attitude, to focus on how I can love and serve those I'm with. At the end of it all, I feel grateful that a friend took a moment to give me a reality check and provided me with this learning opportunity. At the end of this day, I hope I can say I'm a little better because of it.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Every once in a while you just have to laugh at yourself, or your situation, or whatever! On Saturday mom and I were doing our routine grocery shopping (why shop alone when you can shop with someone else??). She was gathering ingredients for her homemade fruit cake and kept saying "I need dates". She said it a time or two before I replied with "You and me both!".

I shared that story via email with Lori tonight and included that apparently it is the southern dating desert in which I live, but somewhere we would find the promised land. Until then, life is grand and I love where I'm at! Life's too short to worry about that which we don't have. And we're so much more blessed than we ever realize.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

It’s the worst feeling in the world. Sure, you’ve said what
was on your mind, but you didn’t process it or do it in a calm and collected
manner. You hurt the feelings of someone you care for. And though you can seek
forgiveness that’s always going to be there. This December I’m going to try to
watch my mouth, to be kinder in the words I say, calmer in my reactions, and
overall more loving in my dealings. This morning didn’t go well, and I hate
that I chose to let myself overreact
poorly. I hate that I start the day in tears. I hate that I hurt someone else.
Here’s hoping that this day only goes up from here and this month results in happier feelings because of my actions.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Here we go again!! Another month gone...and though I can't believe how quickly it's going, I'm so excited!

Walk 500 miles: I made a goal to walk 50 miles in November just to help December go a little easier (I got a little bit behind). Believe it or not, I DID IT!! That only leaves 33 miles for December...33!!!!!

Read the standard works cover to cover: I needed to make it through Doctrine & Covenants 100 and I did it too!! Only a little bit more and I'll have this one completed too!

Grow my hair out to donate it: Still hanging in there on this one!! I'm hoping by my birthday next year it will be good to go!

I can't even begin to describe how amazing it is to be this close to reaching all of these really big goals. I'm so glad I didn't give in to the voices in my head telling me to quit, or that it was too much, or for the voices of others who told me I didn't have to push it so hard, or that I made the rules and could easily change them. I did this for me, to BECOME someone more, and hopefully better, than I was before!

I'm so excited for December!!! I'm excited to finish! I'm excited to find yet another new beginning at the end of my finish line!!

Bucket List

1. Learn to make French croissants2. Ride in a hot air balloon3. Visit NYC4. Make all recipes in Josi Kilpack's Culinary Mystery Series5. Visit Mackinac Island, MI6. Read the standard works cover to cover7. Visit Pike Place Market in Washington state8. Learn to play the guitar9. Graduate from college with a degree10. Go deep sea fishing11. Walk 500 miles in one year12. Participate in a humanitarian service project13. See the Northern Lights14. Adopt a child(ren)15. Attend General Conference in person16. Drive in all 50 states17. Take a pottery class (or other craft)18. Learn how to can/preserve food19. Get something published20. Learn to play chess

21. Try standup paddleboarding

22. Take a completely spontaneous trip

23. Grow my hair long and donate it

24. Plan a menu for a restaurant...possibly open it.25. Marry my best friend26. Live in a big city

27. Have a food fight

28. Stay out all night star gazing29. Test drive a car I could never buy30. Be kissed in the rain31. Get a passport32. Attend a Brian Regan show33. Learn to change the oil on my car34. Eat no chocolate for 1 month35. Visit the Sacred Grove36. Ride a train long distance37. Wish on a shooting star38. Grow a small garden39. Attend a midnight movie premier40. Find a cure for my hiccups

41. Learn ASL

42. Go on a cruise43. See the Eiffel Tower44. Ride a motorcycle45. Spend the night on the beach46. Donate blood

47. Ride a segway

48. Take a dance class

49. Pet a shark or sting ray

50. Cut down a Christmas tree51. Own a baby grand piano52. Attend the filming of a TV show

53. Ride in a taxi cab

54. Eat at a DD&D featured restaurant

55. Run a 5k56. Ride a horse

*Bold items = complete

Followers

There is no passion to be found in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.-Nelson Mandela

The Lord knows who we really are, what we really think, what we really do, and who we really are becoming.-David A. Bednar